All posts with the ‘ client control ’ Tag


Contract Hacks: Getting Paid When Things Go Kerflooey

One of the great virtues of having a contract is that it tells you what to do when things don’t work out the way you hoped they would.

Tucked away at the end of the contract are all sorts of helpful instructions on how much interest late payments will incur, where you can sue each other, and who is responsible for what.

One of those … Read More

Contract Hacks: Giving it All Away

Contract Hacks: making freelance contracts better, one hack at a time.… Read More

Fire Bad Clients

Life is too short to work with bad clients.

Sometimes, despite your best attempts to save the situation, the time arrives to cut a client loose so you can focus your energy on more fruitful endeavors.

When that time comes, don’t drag it out or give them 42 second chances. Make it quick and be direct so you can both move on.… Read More

Avoid Conflicts Before They Happen

I’m pretty good at helping people break down what’s happening in a conflict and figure out the best way to address it.

Thirty minutes with me and you’ll be all, “Conflict? What conflict? Pass me the cookie tray! Have you seen that Youtube video where the squirrel and the Bernese Mountain dog are best friends?”

But as much fun as I have tackling conflicts, I … Read More

How to Tell A Client How Much Something Costs

It seems like telling your clients how much your services cost would be a fairly straight forward process, but a lot of freelancers get jammed up when the question is put to them, and for good reason.

If you answer without asking a few questions of your own, you run the risk of either underpricing your services for the client’s needs or scaring the client … Read More

Good Advice #11: Help, My Client Didn’t Read the Contract!

I know, it sounds crazy, but some people sign legally binding documents without reading them. Bonkers, right?

But what do you do when the person who hasn’t read the contract is the person you’re working for? What happens when your client doesn’t know what he agreed to?… Read More

The Ace Freelancer’s Guide to Dealing With Difficult People: The Scope Creep

Boldly we charge ahead in our mission to deal with those that prove most difficult to our hero, The Freelancer!

This week: managing the Scope Creep, he who yearns for additional work without extra payment or adjustment of deadlines.

Hey, Scope Creep. I’ve got your number and I’m coming for you.… Read More

The Ace Freelancer’s Guide to Dealing With Difficult People: The Guilt Trip

Let’s be honest, sometimes dealing with people just sucks.

They can be needy and demanding, stubborn and impatient, frustrating and irrational.

But if you’re a freelancer, there’s no avoiding working with difficult people. There is no boss to run interference between you and Crazy Cathy and unless you defend your boundaries well, “Just One More Thing” Jonathan will drive you to drink.

Instead of throwing … Read More

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5 Things to Know Before You Sign Your Publishing Contract

The following is the first of five emails from a free e-course about understanding publishing contracts. You can sign up for the rest of the course here. In any publishing deal, you're in charge. That's because a publishing contract is you giving the publisher permission to use your work. They need permission and

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